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February First Fridays: Fire & Ice

February's "Fire & Ice" themed First Fridays will have ice carvers, 500 luminaries lining Michigan Street, and a special fireworks show that will include a choreographed River Lights presentation!

Also enjoy fiery food and drink specials, amazing Restaurant Week deals, Meet Me in the Gallery at the South Bend Museum of Art, live music, and much more! Check out all the details below.

Transpo will be offering FREE shuttle rides on one of their new CNG buses from 5:00 to 9:00 pm., and this February First Fridays they will be launching their new shuttle route, which includes the South Bend Museum of Art! Click here for a map of the brand new shuttle route. Transpo shuttle service will pass each stop approximately every 15 minutes.

The shuttle service now has First Fridays Tour Guides! They will tell you all about the different activities and promotions that are taking place downtown at First Fridays, as well give general info about the downtown businesses, mixed with historical tidbits and fun facts. Grab a seat on the new First Fridays Transpo Tour, and enjoy the informative ride!

Entertainment & Activities

5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
120 S. Saint Joseph St.
Come in from the cold and warm up inside the South Bend Museum of Art at Meet Me in the Gallery, featuring incredible art and live music from VibeNation. Be inspired by the Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition, showcasing the talent of the region’s award-winning middle and high school artists. $5 at the door; children 12 and under free. Members will receive tickets in the mail. Food concessions available and cash bar provided by the Century Center. Presented by SBMA and 88.1 WVPE Public Radio with support from Century Center.

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Gridiron
The Downtown Dignity Giving Box is an opportunity for community members to educate themselves and give to the resources available to those in need in Downtown South Bend. Downtown South Bend staff and board members will be present at the Giving Box to provide materials, information and outline the importance of supporting homelessness organizations versus individuals. For more information, click here.

Fireworks, Luminaries & Ice Carvings

5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
In keeping with the Fire & Ice theme of this month's First Fridays, we will have 500 luminaries lining Michigan Street, three live ice carvings taking place by MICA (Michiana Ice Carvers Association), and a special fireworks presentation taking place at 9:00 p.m. The show will be launched from the former "On the River" site, in the sandy area just north of Seitz Park. The best places for viewing the show will be on the Colfax Bridge, in the Great Hall at the Century Center (which will feature a cash bar 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.), and, weather permitting, on the Century Center Island. Click here for a map of viewing locations, and places to avoid for safety reasons. Fireworks, luminaries, and ice carvings are sponsored by Downtown South Bend, the Downtown Dining Alliance, and LaSalle Grill.

Three live ice carvings will be taking place this First Fridays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: an I Heart SB Sculpture carving will be created in Studebaker Plaza, a photo op carving will take place by South Bend Chocolate Cafe, and there will be an ice sculpture of flames by LaSalle Grill that will also have actual flames coming out of the top of it.

5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
609 E. Jefferson Blvd.
Enjoy live music from three different bands this First Fridays at The General Deli & Cafe: Brides of Neptune, County Road, and Beige Food. No cover, but band donations are always welcome.

8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
105 E. Jefferson Blvd.
Enjoy two free live shows this First Fridays at Chicory Cafe. The Concept will be performing at 8:00 p.m., and Chris Kang will be playing 9:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Also enjoy their First Fridays specials of $1.50 one scoop gelato, and 16 oz. Hurricanes for $6.00.

5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
122 S. Michigan St.
Kevin Scott Joiner will be performing a free concert at the South Bend Chocolate Cafe from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Also take advantage of their First Fridays special: 2 for $17 any crunch/pretzel combo.

5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
305 E. Colfax Ave.Fire Arts, Inc. invites the public to an exhibit by ceramic artist and sculptor Beau Bilenki entitled “Calling All Chickens Home.” In honor of 2017 being “the Year of the Rooster,” this show will feature his current feathered ceramic creations along with some who have found new homes but are coming ‘home’ for a visit. The show will run through February 24.

129 N. Michigan St.
10:00 p.m.
Come celebrate Bob Marley's birthday at Vegetable Buddies with the return of Indika Reggae band from Chicago. Indika Reggae Band brings strong and addictive music to their fans in every show. The band features Rasta Kelly - 8 times winner of Chicago’s Reggae Music Awards and one of the midwest's best reggae vocalists. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. with a 10:00 p.m. showtime. Come early and enjoy a meal off their Winter Restaurant Week menu and/or their featured First Fridays cocktail: One Love Fire & Ice Cocktail (Flaming Pineapple Rum Punch) for $6.

Food & Drink Specials

17 Downtown Restaurants
Restaurant Week offers diners the opportunity to experience the variety of cuisine downtown South Bend has to offer from Italian to fine dining, New Orleans inspired to Japanese flavors. The menus include breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner options. 17 Downtown South Bend restaurants will offer valued-priced menus at $11, $22, or $33 (view menus here.) Approximately 10% of the proceeds from each meal purchased will be donated directly to the Memorial Children’s Hospital.

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
123 N. Hill St.
Join Purple Porch Co-op for an evening of Violet Sky Chocolate. Sample handcrafted truffles and single origin chocolate bars. These chocolates are handmade right here in South Bend at Lang Lab. Bars and truffles will be available for purchase the night of the event and pre-orders can be made for Valentine's Day.

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
123 S. Michigan St.Edible Arrangements will be giving out samples of their Frozen Hot Chocolate this First Fridays and offering $1 off the full size. Plus take advantage of their regular First Fridays special: 50% off a box of dipped fruit (pick-up only.)

5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
713 E. Jefferson Blvd.Barnaby's will be offering $4 pints every First Fridays this year, and they are also featuring a First Saturdays special each month: any large 2 topping pizza, an order of breadsticks, and a pitcher of pop (or a 2 liter on carry out orders) for only $19.95 plus tax.

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
109 E. Jefferson Blvd.City-Wide Liquors will be hosting a sampling with Cardinal Spirits - a Hoosier craft distillery located in Bloomington, Indiana. Stop by and taste cocktails featuring Lake House spiced rum and new Terra gin. Feel free to try their whole line of award winning spirits available to take home with you.

Retail Specials

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
121 S. Niles Ave.
Come celebrate a fusion of art and fashion at two grand openings in the Emporium Building this First Fridays! A.R. Drew Art and Luxe Wagon have just moved in to their new digs, and are our newest First Fridays participants. Join them as they celebrate with music, champagne, oysters, food from Render, and more. (Note: this event is 21+ only.)

7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
217 S. Michigan St.The Pigeon & The Hen Pottery will be hosting a special Aurora Borealis class this First Fridays. Create the northern lights on a Lotus Bowl with this Aurora Borealis inspired technique. Specialty glitter glazes complete the feel of solar particles blown into earth's magnetic field inside your bowl! Class costs $19 and includes all materials and following. RSVP by ticket purchase only by clicking here.

4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
212 S. Michigan St.Idle Hours Bookshop will have a "Love Your Books" sale, which will include 20% off certain romance novels. Stop in and see what you can pick up for your special Valentine. Plus they will have their sale table out, and their Children's Story Hour at 4:00 p.m.

Plus...

713 E. Jefferson Blvd.
$4 pints every First Fridays; also featuring a First Saturdays special each month: any large 2 topping pizza, an order of breadsticks, and a pitcher of pop (or a 2 liter on carry out orders) for only $19.95 plus tax.